Kent ISD Superintendent Ron Koehler Announces Retirement
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Kent ISD Superintendent Ron Koehler will retire on June 30, 2024 after serving in the role for more than 3 years. During their regular meeting on Monday, March 18, Kent ISD’s School Board accepted Koehler’s retirement and approved a resolution to name Kent ISD Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services Dr. Ron Gorman as Koehler’s successor. Dr. Gorman will begin the role as superintendent July 1, 2024.
“The Kent ISD School Board and staff of Kent ISD appreciate the outstanding leadership that Ron Koehler has given during his tenure as superintendent. He has made ‘We Lead Learning’ a reality, and we will miss his devotion, enthusiasm, and outstanding skills as a leader,” said Andrea Haidle, President, Kent ISD Board. “We also welcome Ron Gorman as Kent ISD’s next superintendent. He has shown his capacity for this position serving as interim superintendent earlier this year, and the Board looks forward to his leadership.”
Superintendent Koehler served as Assistant Superintendent of Kent ISD overseeing organizational and community initiatives for 14 years and as Director of Communications for 9 years before that. He retired in 2019 and returned to lead the organization as interim superintendent in January 2021 following the retirement of Ron Caniff. Koehler was hired as superintendent in April 2021 after a nationwide search to fill the role.
“My time at Kent ISD has truly been the best, most rewarding and fulfilling of my professional career,” said Koehler. “I am proud of the work this team does every day to serve students, schools and educators in our region. It has been my honor to support the pursuit of more opportunities and better outcomes for students.”
In June 2022, Dr. Ron Gorman was hired as Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services for Kent ISD following 25 years serving Grand Rapids Public Schools as a classroom teacher, principal, instructional leader, administrator and interim superintendent.
“It is an honor to have been selected by our Board of Education to lead Kent ISD. I am excited to continue the great work of Superintendent Koehler, our leadership team, and our phenomenal staff supporting students and educators in Kent ISD,” said Dr. Ron Gorman. He will lead as Kent ISD Superintendent starting July 1, 2024.
Please direct media inquiries to Joy Walczak, Kent ISD Communications Specialist at joywalczak@kentisd.org or 906.632.6290.
